by Joan Quirke
The Waterford branch of People Before Profit supports the campaign by the Unite Trade Union in their endeavours to reclaim the Waterford Glass brand name for the city and hopefully the return of much increased glass manufacturing jobs to the local industry and economy. We call on all citizens to support Unites efforts in this matter and believe it would be a shame if the local glass making skills and talent are lost for future generations. The Unite call for a glass art technology/ design academy at WIT we believe is excellent and should be vigorously pursued. It would also help in that institutions attempts to upgrade to University status. Glass artists such as Dale Chihuly, who spent months in the factory creating glass art alongside local craftspeople some years ago, could help the Unite campaign and perhaps return for the Bord Failte Gathering alongside other Internationally renowned glass artists and local ‘ blowers ‘ for a “ball gathering extravaganza” in conjunction with the excellent Kite operation, next to Cathedral Sq. in the Viking Quarter. We would also urge Unite to set up a facebook page where local people, other Irish citizens as well as the diaspora could registrar its support to reclaim the trademark and glass making tradition for our city.